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These guy have been showing up in the neighbourhood and we're now getting them in the garden

The one individual we have coming around the feeder regularly is in very good condition, sleek, round and well fed.
Only problem with this fella is he's missing two thirds of his lower mandible. It's probably an old injury since he doesn't seem bothered by it. He's able to feed himself and certainly makes his presence known at the banana feeder. Swainson's Thrush don't usually frequent fruit feeders so I'm guessing that thanks to his handicap he is capitalizing on any food source he can no matter how unconventional it might be.

A banana feeder, that's a new one on me Bryan. I did try something exotic this morning and hung two halves of a clementine on a feeder -trouble was they'd frozen solid within 20 minutes so that's taught me not to be too imaginative. A nice colourful flock of eleven Crossbills turned up today, I photographed them in case they were part of the Parrot Crossbill influx that had perhaps headed south, but they were all Common. Speaking of photography, I thought folks would find this afternoon's attached pic instructive....

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
I never could decide" Leonard Cohen

Hi Ken,
he's certainly a saucy opportunist.
The consensus here is that he might be ok through the winter here but will probably not survive the migration back to North America, I'm not so sure, he's very fit and seems to have adapted to his handicap with a slightly more aggressive and compensating behaviour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Prior

A banana feeder, that's a new one on me Bryan. I did try something exotic this morning and hung two halves of a clementine on a feeder -trouble was they'd frozen solid within 20 minutes so that's taught me not to be too imaginative. A nice colourful flock of eleven Crossbills turned up today, I photographed them in case they were part of the Parrot Crossbill influx that had perhaps headed south, but they were all Common. Speaking of photography, I thought folks would find this afternoon's attached pic instructive....

Hi Richard,
Now thats too cold for me and I hail from Winnipeg or as we like to call it Winterpeg

Banana feeders are fairly common around here since bananas are plentiful and cheap. A large stalk of bananas and by that I mean one I can barely lift costs between 3 and 10 US dollars. Result, I can afford to keep the feeder stocked not to mention all the banana smoothies.

I didn't realize the name Parrot Crossbills existed till you mentioned them in your post. British Columbia has two species, the bog standard Red Crossbill and the slightly rarer White-winged Crossbill.
I was always fascinated by the similar parrot like behaviour of the Crossbills and the parrot habits I witness here in Central America. I've even seen Crossbills visiting salt/mineral licks just as parrots will do. Interesting behavioural niches.

I didn't realize the name Parrot Crossbills existed till you mentioned them in your post. British Columbia has two species, the bog standard Red Crossbill and the slightly rarer White-winged Crossbill.
I was always fascinated by the similar parrot like behaviour of the Crossbills and the parrot habits I witness here in Central America. I've even seen Crossbills visiting salt/mineral licks just as parrots will do. Interesting behavioural niches.

Bryan

Oh yes, the White-winged, we've heard about that in Europe recently as one has turned up in Iceland, a very smart looking male too. Interesting the salt licks behaviour - here in winter I've seen Crossbills in the middle of the roads - I assumed it was grit swallowing for their digestive system but maybe the saltiness of the anti-ice treatment on the roads is a factor too...

__________________
"Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
I never could decide" Leonard Cohen

Ok, silly bookkeeping error on my part which means I officially back up one number. I should learn to leave counting up to Carey since she's a numbers gal and I'm a vague hands waving in the air kind of guy.

That means we are at 92

91. White-tipped Dove
92. Broad-winged Hawk

I will also note a misnaming from Scarlet Tanager to what is actually in the garden, Summer Tanager. I always mix up their names.
We did see a Scarlet Tanager today while out on our morning walk. He was cleverly taking advantage of a porch bound caged parrot's messy eating habits. He very kindly brought our neighbourhood list up to 131.

One species I'm missing in the garden so far are the Motmots. Where are they? I've seen them in the neighbourhood but not in the garden. They usually come to the feeders but for some reason not this year. Very odd.

One species I'm missing in the garden so far are the Motmots. Where are they? I've seen them in the neighbourhood but not in the garden. They usually come to the feeders but for some reason not this year. Very odd.

Just had a goshawk causing a panic among the crows, pigeons and rose-ringed parakeets. I've seen them flying over before but this is the first time in ten years I've seen one actually in the garden. That brings the in-garden total up to 55 species.

Just had a goshawk causing a panic among the crows, pigeons and rose-ringed parakeets. I've seen them flying over before but this is the first time in ten years I've seen one actually in the garden. That brings the in-garden total up to 55 species.

A great bird to get in the garden Stan!.....I've had them flying over, but never in the garden.

Minus 7.5 last night, heavy snow this morning and now pouring with rain with a warm foehn wind, the world's gone mad. And look what turned up sheltering from the weather!
Just need a Snowfinch to turn up now

Attached Thumbnails

__________________
"Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
I never could decide" Leonard Cohen

A french teenager I know who cuts my grass and knows I have lots of birds always in my garden asked me yesterday if I knew the name of a bird he had taken photo of couple months ago. Photos taken in the woods only few minutes from here.
I didnt so looked on internet and interesting what I found out.
Red billed Leiothrix - the photos show six birds in each photo
In recent years been lots of sightings in this part of France .

Minus 7.5 last night, heavy snow this morning and now pouring with rain with a warm foehn wind, the world's gone mad. And look what turned up sheltering from the weather!
Just need a Snowfinch to turn up now

A french teenager I know who cuts my grass and knows I have lots of birds always in my garden asked me yesterday if I knew the name of a bird he had taken photo of couple months ago. Photos taken in the woods only few minutes from here.
I didnt so looked on internet and interesting what I found out.
Red billed Leiothrix - the photos show six birds in each photo
In recent years been lots of sightings in this part of France .

It looks quite a pretty bird Brenda, hope you get to see one in your garden, it has a nice song apparently.

__________________
"Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
I never could decide" Leonard Cohen

A banana feeder, that's a new one on me Bryan. I did try something exotic this morning and hung two halves of a clementine on a feeder -trouble was they'd frozen solid within 20 minutes so that's taught me not to be too imaginative. A nice colourful flock of eleven Crossbills turned up today, I photographed them in case they were part of the Parrot Crossbill influx that had perhaps headed south, but they were all Common. Speaking of photography, I thought folks would find this afternoon's attached pic instructive....

Yes Wari, the Marsh are around the house all year and bred in a hole in our Uncle's apple tree across the road, the Willows usually stay in the forest, last winter I only heard one once and saw none but this winter they've discovered the fast-food bird restaurant I've set up and are present daily. Each morning when I top up the feeders one of the Willow Tits comes and shouts at me from a metre away, very impatient little beggars.
About 25cms of snow today, three more Alpine Accentors feeding on the roadside and about 30 Goldfinches on the feeders, I imagine in Finland you need a spotlight to see what's in the garden at this time of year

__________________
"Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
I never could decide" Leonard Cohen